$99 Tube Amp - Peavey Valve King Royal 8 - Review - TTK Style! NAMM 10 2010

[mee887]

Hi, I want to buy this amp and I have Boss GT-6 processor, so does my sound quality is gona be better or not, or preamp make all the sound and amp then gona be only like speaker?

[livepunx]

Peavey Valve King Royal "el ocho" lol

[bluesbystrat]

hi i saw you demo the kustom defender 5h which would you go for the valve king or defender and are they similar in volume the 5h is quite load i believe ???

[clintmiller23]

How does this compare with the Bugera V5 as far as tone, features, build quality, and overall features for the price. I've been seeing both used for around $100. Thanks in advance

[vainparasite]

I bought this amp as it was cheap and i thought it would be better than my lads marshall mg15 for practice.

I was wrong and it sounds awful.... It is however extremely loud and is miles better with a pedal in front to boost the treble such as a boss mt2.

[stratoman]

in all fairness it sounds like what it is...an inexpensive amp, thanks for the demo

[nikitofin]

hey ttk ! do you think that will sound good with a distortion pedal ? thanks

[Hatafuriyamanokaiju]

Talking 2:30 before sound...

[dtraisin]

This sounds horrible. I have this amp, I usualy have the gain usualy aroud 10 oclock and the tone around about 3, and it sounds a lot better than this. It has some low volume distortion but once you have it up past 9 or 10 it soudns perfect. Better than a valve junior and cheaper. In my opinion.

[kiklop777]

doesnt sound so good

[sinbindinchin]

Sounds pretty bad, i prefer the sound of my crate combo (transistor amp).

I know amps sound different in real life, but if that mic is meant to be the one of the best, what else could be making it sound so shitty? Free VSTs sound better than this amp through a mic.

I've made better recordings with a PC mic and my crate amp with a sillicon fuzz pedal.

Theres no need for this amp to exist.

[perlepumpa]

I recomend to plug active pickups such as seymour duncan blackout's in the input 2, once they are high gain pickups, and so is better if you want to get more cleans with gain turn to 8 or 9 hours

keep metal tone king!

[MrShasta32]

all the valve king amps are muddy as hell your better off with a rockmaster or a peavy supreme 160 or peavy ultra 60 if you can find them.

[Nevigo]

It seems to be a hefty little amp ;)

[PattyWhomperOFFICIAL]

pretty good 4 the price...

[Alanhgtr]

I have this amp.

To get the best from it you need to have the tone set anywhere from 3 O'clock to full. Below 3 O'clock it's too bassy. Also, I don't advise using so much pre-amp gain- I never go past 11 O'Clock.

If you use the power tubes (master volume) and/or your pickups and/or picking attack to get your gain you get a really smooth, Marshall style crunch.

Check out my youtube vid to hear it with these types of settings.

[Alanhgtr]

@Alanhgtr

Forgot to say.......

..........it takes pedals really well too. I use overdrive, distortion, eq, modulation and delay. With this type of set up you can get some great tones across an array of musical styles; and at very low volumes.

[Teutonic1250]

does this get really loud? because im in a band with another guitarist, a bassist, 2 drummers, and a vocalist. could it cut through the mix?

[Alanhgtr]

@Teutonic1250

It is pretty loud and you could probably rehearse or play a small venue with it, provided that the drummer doesn't bash his drums to high heaven.

However, as you have two drummers, the competition between them could cause you a problem. Of course, you could always mic the amp up to your PA and get the benefit of all that fully cranked tube tone without worrying about being drowned out by the drums. That might be a better option than a higher wattage amp that you can't crank.

[deanosabbathfan]

great video as always tk, ive got the vypyr 15 not a bad little amp but speaker isnt very good is there a good 8 inch upgrade?? thanks

[DoggedCyprez]

Im not very impressed by the way you record this shit, give the mic little distance and second is its cool for in the video but not great for the record next time put perhaps a blanket over the amplifier while record make your sound a little bit more like studiorecording, practice make's perfection!

[pissballs]

If I hear those carefully configured 3 notes again I'm gonna bust. lol It must be a subliminal program!

[usefulcoin]

I'm sorry why do all your demos sound muffled? Please up the presence

[aeartress]

I like the 609 TTK. Doesnt seem to add anything like the SM57 has been known to. BTW Dont ya love all these little tube amps out now...

[Jasong9573]

These are great little amps, but the OEM speaker is bad. I replaced it with a Jensen MOD and it sounds much better. I have had mine for over a year and play it nearly every day. Not one problem and sounds great for recording.

[guitarguts666]

a $1000.00 Rico Jr. Vixen on $99.00 amp and a $89.00 mic. Still sounds like a crappy ass Peavey. I would have used a Strat or something other then the Rico Jr.

[weehastogopee]

i got this amp cause of you, thanks :D

i love it!

[jayou812a]

Hey Tone dude,I have a senneiser e906 mabey you could help me. I wonder if the 609 is better. Run it up against the e609 what one is best?

[PabloDarioLi]

Which is better this royal 8 or the Fender chamion 600?

[coreyfromtheband]

ligo vlakia m akugete.. :P

[gregsb100]

this is a great amp. Got mine off MF too!

[roaringwaterbay]

what is "class a" power?

[AtAsTeOfCaHoSeGUITAR]

FROM WHAT I CAN TELL U HOME IS BUTIFULL

[jammers5]

Not bad for $100! Mic-ing the amps in your demo's up is a vast improvement TK! Now if we could only get you to play LP's, Strats and Teles instead of those Active pickups :p

Keep it coming Tone King!

[flynbryan88]

IMO, it sounds like what a $99.00 tube amp should sound like.

[nestorg84]

hey Tone King, I like the new Mic e609 I personally also use that mic, because you can mic it real close and it doesnt distort, I didnt really hear clipping but my ear is probably not as good as some other people, I tried the sm57 and both of the mics do their job, but for me its the e609, and keep up the good work, I love your videos and love looking for a better Tone.

[Iam18grey]

Great demo, thanks Tone King!

[t3hgir]

Great as always TTK, your riffs never get old!!

[bleedingfly]

Blackouts make everything sound real nice. Good demo ttk.

[JonnyRake]

mic'ing amps now?, sweet :)

[squiersupersonic]

i owned one of these amps for a few weeks, sent it back to the shop, was pretty bad

[sporkcrx]

Love all the new additions except for one thing: Not seeing the playing

I'm assuming it's for viewers to focus more on listening, but we're all guitarists who love watching others style of playing

[lmsjr]

I hear ya spork - thx for the comment.

[illusionfreak]

SM 57 are really good for recording guitars too Tone King.

I'll tell you right now, your clipping the mic all to hell. If you get that sorted out, I'm sure it'd sound a whole lot better.

[lmsjr]

Hey illusion, thx for the comment. I always check the levels, and didnt' see the mic clipping on the level indicators.  Please tell me ... how can you tell (or how do you know) they're clipping. It sounds like you know what you're talking about, so I'm all ears, and open to any advice you can give me. Thx man.

[illusionfreak]

You can tell just by listening. In the part where you turn the guitar volume up, you'll begin to hear a sound like when you turn your car stereo up way to loud. If you backed the mic from the speaker, it'd help tremendously.

Back the mic way away from the amp, record it, listen to it and then put the mic like you have it now, record it and listen to it. You'll be able to hear it then.

[hueseph]

@lmsjr For what it's worth and you can take this or leave it. I highly doubt the mic itself is clipping. That little amp couldn't possibly put out enough volume to cause that mic to clip. I've used 57s to mic Marshall stacks at very high volumes. They take a beating. The clipping is in either the preamp or more likely the software.

It's digital clipping that you have to look out for. Any time your input exceeds -1 db, that is, any time you hit 0dBV the software or A/D conversion will clip.

[burliufo]

@lmsjr it has this weird harsh distortion that destroys also the eq and makes the sound absolutely compressed

cheers man ;)

[leamog]

@lmsjr re: clipping...if you want to check just open the audio in an audio editor like wavelab and check that the wave form isn't smooshing the roof. its really only on the neck pickup on clean. could be crap "youtube" compression if its not that.

long time listener, first time caller - love your work tk!

[forwardthequeers]

@lmsjr Because you can hear it clipping. You don't hear the parts of distortion in this vid? I'm no expert but this video sounds really bad because of that.

[beyonddeadstudio]

@illusionfreak thats the amp breaking up dumb ass.

[andrenogueira775]

this is a desgrace to tube amps. sounds like a crappy fender sp-10 that comes in those squier packages :S

[magazinedude2002]

Good job on the review. For 100 I hope they have some when I get cash. Could you make a video using a boost pedal such as a TS9 to make it crunchier? This could be a hidden recording gem for the price!!! What amps are competing with this as well?

[spawnsc]

does the Sennheiser e609 connect usb to your computer?

[MojoPenguin]

Had this amp, sold it to get the Orange AD5.. BIG improvment. This amp does not do overdrive, just slight crunch, sounds ok though. CHeers

[lutherheggs]

Sounds like one of those amps you can get from Wal-Mart.

[GNRrockerdude]

those amps sound like they have a broken speaker. even through headphone, with the volume down. check TTKs video of mini amps and check the fender on "overdrive". sounds like a saw going through a tin can.

[Stormleader42]

I liked the amp much more so than the Fender, I also think that it sounded much better with the Blackouts as well.

[Barto1361]

i love that fuzzy distorted sound of a little tube amp.

[marcelloviscardi]

The new mic is a nice upgrade to your clarity. It almost made the Valve King sound good :p

AKA Balou22

[BuzzCrumhunger]

I like the sound of this amp, but I gotta say the Sennheiser 609 series has been around, like, for-EVER! Same shape, same name, different build qualities, I think. I used them years ago in a friend's project studio and they were old then. What gives?

[ace69er]

Sounds pretty good. Cleans good, gains not bad. It DOES sound a lot better with the E609 than the SM57.

57 is better for live use i think & 609 better for recording.

Good 1 TK!

[lmsjr]

@ace69er Thanks ace!

[tak178]

It's not too shabby, TTK. I just don't really like the sound of the tubes in this one. The gain seems kind of thin for a Class A.

The Sennheiser is a great addition.

[texsjam]

Love the new mic setup!!!!!!

[tonytoes3895]

this is a better deal than the fender 99$ amp because it has a bigger speaker and more controlls to get many tones.. but the fender does have a killer clean

[antifaith82]

a Rico Jr. vixen w/ blackouts thru an affordable Peavey all-tube amp... it doesn't get any better than this, folks.

[lmsjr]

@antifaith82 haha. my feelings are mutual :-)

[remotecontrol1324]

@lmsjr Don't want to complaint but you could had use passive pick ups..

[lmsjr]

@remotecontrol1324 I know remote ... sorry bout that. I'll dig up a new axe for these.

[mudbone80]

I think it was a good choice choosing the actives over passives. If you roll back the volume, active pickups are really pristine and clean.

[remotecontrol1324]

@lmsjr Thank you :)

I really don't understand WHY every guitar brand is putting active pick ups on there guitar... not every metal guitarrist likes that sound.

I want to buy a new axe but I having a hard time finding a good one without actives pick ups!!

The only active pick ups that I like are the seymour duncan dave mustaine livewire now that is a really good pickup with a really natural sound, pity that on his signature guitar has it!!!

[lmsjr]

@remotecontrol1324 Hey remote - to answer the question honestly ... it's a marketing thing. EMG 81 / 85 are probably the 2 most popular pickups out there (at 1 point, they were the most popular upgrade), so MFRs started adding them to the axes, to sell an 'out of the box - upgraded axe'. PLUS - w/ active pickups, there is little to NO noise at all (no hum), which means less support calls into their customer service lines for folks thinking their axe has a short. It's a marketing move.

[remotecontrol1324]

@lmsjr I know what you mean but a noise gate can easily fix the noise problem...

[38decembers]

@remotecontrol1324-Hey man,check out Beat Street Music on Ebay-they have several brand new B.C.Rich's without any pickup's installed-slap in some Dimarzio's or Seymour Duncan's and it works out your way bro.

[remotecontrol1324]

@lmsjr Ohh one last question how much was the Rico Jr. Vixen, Gary Holt Signature ?

[lmsjr]

@remotecontrol1324 haha - retail - VERY expensive. I bought both of mine used at a good price (1/2 of retail). If you keep your eye on ebay, you'll see them go for about $1500 - $1700 used. Considering they are 3k - 4k new, that's not a bad deal.

[remotecontrol1324]

@lmsjr WOW now that is expensive...

[thefezblitz]

Great thx, I love Your work

Love these Budget Gear reviews!

Keep Up the good Job!

[lmsjr]

@thefezblitz Thx thefez!!

[GNRrockerdude]

Love this amp. plenty of gain for a 5w tube amp. I think it would be a better $99 spent than the fender unless you only play clean stuff or blues. Much more versatile still sounds great. I like the blackouts tone with this amp, cause they really push it. Better than the Epi valve junior.\m/

[SomethinWild]

As a true TTK fan and a faithful viewer of your videos, I have a request. Can you please do a videos about amp microphones, microphone placement for recording etc.? Thanks in advance!

[lmsjr]

Hey SW - I have actually been thinking about that. Let me see what I can do. Thx for the words of support! I appreciate it.

[brokensoul70]

Actually the Valveking is being discontinued, once they are gone they are gone for good. That is a cool little amp for $99, I was going to get this amp but I opted for the Bugera V5 combo. I have been wanting a vintage style amp and besides I already own two Valveking's, the 50 watt 112 and the 100 watt head. Both of those are excellent amps and I got them both for a damn good price.

[lmsjr]

Why are they discontinuing them? Any word on that? This (oddly enough) is the only VK amp I played.

[brokensoul70]

@lmsjr

I was wondering that myself, I have not heard why unless they are wanting to focus more on the Vypyr series. both of the VK's I have are great, I recommend the VK100 head. The best part is I scored both my VK112 combo and head both almost new for $275 each.

[zigmondfroid1067]

you're shitting me. VK100 for 275? i got mine in UK for 325.. work it out in dollars etc but how did you pick it up that cheap!

[brokensoul70]

@zigmondfroid1067

The guy I got it from was looking to get a Mesa and he was close to having enough and was wanting to get it quick, I was in the right place at the right time.

[nirson123]

I want a REAL practice amp...all they do now is just fucking FX amps that no one likes, they are forcing us to buy expensive things

[LordOfThisWorld74]

Dang why is this a valveking haha. Nothing about is similar to the other VKs are there? Different tubes, speakers etc

[Rectumfryer]

@LordOfThisWorld74 all VK's are made in china thats one thing that makes it like the other VK

[LordOfThisWorld74]

Thats true I guess. But what isnt now days other than 2K amps?? I dont care if its made in china if it gives me a good tone. Things are changing huh

[Erithlon]

Are you gonna do a Marshall Ma series review? that would kick ass!

[rockfreak611]

@Erithlon those amps are basically an MG with tubes. not good not bad but just kinda average

[joeydahlia]

the mic has a filter and the cab has the cover..hard to tell with all the dullness...

[TheFilipFors]

i think your camera is awsome ;)

[gh05trider9]

The Mic definitely improved the tonal spectrum that comes through on audio even when compressed by YT. I don't recall this amp sounding like this during the livecast.

[Blader999]

What the fuck? No EQ? oO

[tony93666]

cool - the mic helped out alot.

I still refuse to use anything less than a 12" speaker for guitar though.

[GuitaristBoi9]

TTK is KORG PitchBlack+

[Qasim311]

i dont see no tab column :(

[ruffles272]

kind of muddy. Good review though

[Bulldogs74840]

i have the peavey valveking 212, and it sounds sooo much better

[themodernguitarist]

Just wanted to say, that mic really works well!

And yeah, the tu.. i mean, VALVEking sounded pretty good.

[TheOzzk]

Hey TK sick mic!!! hehehe I know you are reviewing the amp, which sounded awesome BTW but that mic is remarkable! PS: hot guitar! Cheers and Happy New Year!

[lmsjr]

@TheOzzk Hey Ozzk - I agree 100%. In fact - that mic made the amp sound so much better than listening to it in person. If you're playing live - I'd strongly recommend this mic. It makes the amp sound a bit larger than it is - very full bodied sound. Thx for the comment.

[smoss469]

A speaker change and a tube swap really helps. Too bad most places are sold out and the places that have them won't honor the MF and Woodwind and Brass prices.

[lmsjr]

haha, I'll give you one better. I think the sennheiser is so good, it sounded better mic'd up than my ears heard it in person :-)

[roygarbitch]

nice amp, but it does really sound like an 99 bucks amp...